A Tradition of Taste
Some of Sachit Mehra’s earliest memories are riding his tricycle around the tables at his family’s restaurant. Today, he’s helping set the direction for the future of East India Company.
His parents, Kamal and Sudha Mehra came to Canada in the early 70s, opening a deli near Health Science’s Centre. When Kamal’s mother, Usha Mehra, joined them they founded the first North Indian restaurant in the city.
Now, nearly 50 years later, the family tradition carries on in their Winnipeg and Ottawa locations.
Sachit is the general manager based in Winnipeg; Anish Mehra manages the two locations in Ottawa; Nitin Mehra, is the executive chef for all locations. Sister Divya Mehra is an artist who assists with the management of the Winnipeg location and carries on their late father’s commitment to creating an atmosphere that sets the stage for fine dining though carefully selected carvings, paintings and tapestries.
Sachit Mehra
“You’ll always find a family member in the restaurant,” said Sachit, who credits this hands-on approach to the family’s longstanding success. “You have to be there for consistent day-in, day-out results,” he said. Working with family has also provided him with something few others have in their work life. “It’s a joy to be able to work with family,” as well as the company’s more than 80 employees.
The other key, of course, is the cuisine. Everything is made from scratch, from fresh ingredients inspired by generations of Mehra family recipes. Sachit remembers watching his grandmother prepare her signature dishes. His mother’s garam masala spice mix is still ground and roasted by the family matriarch. “It’s the secret – it’s in everything,” he said. Even with the tenure as East India Company has, they are still introducing Indian food to guests. “One of the best ways to learn about a culture is through its food.”
One of the biggest misconceptions is that the food all brow-sweat inducing spicy, said Sachit. While dishes can bring the heat, they are all made from scratch with fresh ingredients from the house-made yogurt to fresh tomatoes cooked down into the sauces. “It’s healthy food. Nothing processed,” said Sachit. It’s also a cuisine that offers flavourful vegetarian and vegan options.
East India Company’s 349 York Ave. location has been a destination for famous people throughout the years, including Oscar-winning actor Ben Kingsley, the Backstreet Boys, Dan Aykroyd – and to self-described Trekkie Sachit’s delight – actor William Shatner.
One of the more recent developments in the family business the East India Company’s line of sauces and spice mixes, something their dad wanted to try years ago. “It took until now for the world to catch up,” said Sachit. Thirty years later the line is available through more than 300 retailers.
“We’re quietly doing something big, headquartered here in Winnipeg.” Giving back has always been important to the family, and what makes a business truly reflective of what it means to be local. “It’s not enough to say you’re local. We all live here. Show me how you’re giving back,” he said. “We’re here for the long term,” said Sachit. “We want to see Indian food continue to evolve, become a further part of Canadian culture.”
Photos by Claudine Gervais
